Road to title may not be as easy

WASILLA — Colony’s armor is chinked heading into today’s Alaska Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament at Chugiak High School.

Coach Fred McKinney said Thursday that one of the program’s top wrestlers, 140-pounder Josh West, won’t be competing in the tournament due to illness. McKinney also said the Boss brothers — freshman Kyle at 119 and senior Aaron at 135 — have both been sick all week with the flu.

“We’ve lost a couple of our better kids,” McKinney said.

McKinney said West is definitely out, while the Kyle and Aaron Boss will likely be

last-minute decisions.

“I don’t know,” McKinney said. “We’ll see what happens.”

The losses are notable for Colony. West, a junior, is the Northern Lights Conference champion who finished the season with a 26-2 record and would have likely been one of the top seeds at 140, while Aaron Boss is the No. 3 seed at 135.

Colony enters the tournament as the defending champions and No. 1-ranked team in the state according to Web site akmat.org. But McKinney said a second championship for the Knights is far from a sure thing.

“It’s going to be very close,” he said. “We’re going to be in the mix, but anybody could take it.”

Colony has the most wrestlers qualified into the tournament — minus West they’ll have 24 spots in the state brackets — but they have just one top-seeded wrestler (undefeated sophomore 103-pounder Charles Coisman) and will face stiff challenges from Lathrop, West Valley, East Anchorage and Cook Inlet Conference champion Chugiak.

The state’s No. 2 team, Lathrop, will bring 18 wrestlers to the tournament, including top seed Trent Lemmons at 152 pounds, while East Anchorage has three top seeds in Nathan Hoffer (119), Dustin Maxwell (125) and Andrew Wilson (215).

Chugiak also has three top seeds, including Grant Sullivan at 135, undefeated Quincy Voris at 140 and 160-pounder Nolan McBryde.

Wasilla, which finished second in last weekend’s Northern Lights Conference tournament, will send a team of 11 wrestlers to the tournament. There, the Warriors will be led by junior 171-pounder Casey Katchinska, an NLC champ seeded fourth at state, and senior Mike Chafin, who’s the No. 3 seed at 119 after a runner-up finish at the conference tournament.

The Palmer Moose have just four entrants, but two — freshman L.J. Lepanen at 112 and junior Nick Stahler at 140 — are both conference champions. While Lepanen’s win was a bit of a surprise, Stahler’s wasn’t, and he was rewarded Thursday night with the top seed at 140 for his efforts.

Houston has two wrestlers in the tournament, seniors Cass Melin (152) and Justin Crowley (215). Crowley was a runner-up at last weekend’s Mid-Alaska tournament, while Melin earned his way to state by winning his third place match.

Here’s a rundown of what to expect at each weight class:

103 pounds

Coisman is the top seed and hasn’t lost this season, putting together a 27-0 record. But he’s faced several tough matches. At last week’s NLC tournament, Coisman was taken the distance by teammate Issac Wilson, and said following that match that there are several wrestlers he’ll have to look out for if he wants a first career state title.

“Three people — Issac Wilson, who I just wrestled, Matthew Malnoske and Skyler Moore,” Coisman said.

Coisman has beaten second-seed Malnoske this season, but has yet to wrestle Moore, the third seed.

Despite facing a difficult bracket full of skilled wrestlers, Coisman said he likes his chances of bringing home a title.

“It’s very doable,” he said.

112 pounds

Service senior Anthony Ricketts has lost just once this season and is the top returning place winner in the bracket, having claimed third at 112 a year ago. The bracket is dominated by wrestlers from outside Southcentral, and Kodiak’s Chloe Ivanoff, the sixth seed, is the only seeded wrestler from the NLC.

But don’t count out Lepanen. Just a freshman, the Moose grappler came on strong at the end of the season, beating Ivanoff in overtime to win the conference title. Lepanen may be a newcomer to high school wrestling, but he’s a former state champion at the middle school level who could surprise anyone who takes him lightly.

After winning the NLC title last week, Lepanen said he’s more than ready to take on all comers at state.

“I can’t wait,” he said.

119 pounds

This promises to be an entertaining class. Both Hoffer, the top seed, and second-seeded Kyle Wilson of Colony are returning state champions. Hoffer, a sophomore, was the 103 champion last season while Wilson, a junior, won the 112 division.

Also in the mix will be Wasilla senior Mike Chafin, a state runner-up at 125 pounds last season who nearly knocked off Wilson in the conference finals. There, Wilson said he believe Chafin will be right there at the end.

“He’s a tough wrestler,” Wilson said.

125 pounds

Maxwell, and East senior, is the top seed here, while Colony’s Zach Beauchamp is No. 2. Maxwell was sixth at 119 last season, while Beauchamp, the 2007 NLC champion, was fifth at 125 a year ago.

Beauchamp won a tough 1-0 decision over a tough opponent (No. 4-seeded Ben Daigle of Homer) in the NLC finals, while Maxwell breezed his way to the CIC title, winning a 9-4 decision in the finals after winning his first two matches by technical fall.

130 pounds

Kodiak senior Jimmy Eggemeyer is a big favorite to take home his second state title. Eggemeyer has lost just once this season, and wasn’t challenged in the conference tournament, winning a major decision over Colony’s Sam Loggins in the finals. Eggemeyer won state last year at 125, defeating Chafin in the finals, and is a four-time state qualifier.

West Valley junior Doug Templeton is the second seed at state, while Loggins, a sophomore, is third.

135 pounds

Chugiak sophomore Grant Sullivan is the top seed at 135, while Soldotna’s Wes Mills — the NLC champ who transferred from Palmer to SoHi before this season — is second.

Mills won a close decision over Colony senior Aaron Boss in the NLC finals, and Boss is a definite threat for the title — if healthy. McKinney said Boss struggled with the flu during the week leading up to state, and could still be feeling the effects of the illness. If he’s healthy, Boss should present a serious challenge to either Sullivan or Mills, while East’s Lipho Thirakul is also dangerous.

140 pounds

Voris, a Chugiak grappler and last year’s runner-up at 145 pounds, has been unstoppable this season a class lighter, compiling a 30-0 record on his way to the top seed at 140. His top competition is expected to be either North Pole’s Eric Antesberger or Homer’s Robby Brymer, the NLC runner-up.

Antesberger lost to Colony junior Josh West in the conference finals, and West would have been one of the top seeds at state. But he’s sidelined with an infection and won’t be available for the Knights in the tournament.

145 pounds

Stahler is Palmer’s best chance for an individual title at 145 pounds. The NLC champ is seeded first in his division after racking up a 20-3 record this year.

In order to win state, however, Stahler will have to get past a familiar foe, Colony’s Levi Krueger. Seeded second, Krueger lost to Stahler in a close match at the NLC tourney and is a good bet to improve on his fourth-place finish from a year ago.

Adding to the drama is the fact that Stahler and Krueger are good friends off the mat.

“We’ve gotten to know each other pretty well,” Stahler said.

152 pounds

Lathrop sophomore Trent Lemmons is the top seed with a 14-3 record, while Juneau’s Steven Dyer is second and has a 30-2 record this year.

NLC champion Tris Brymer is seeded sixth, while NLC runner-up David Crozier of Colony is unseeded. Crozier is the top Mat-Su entrant in the tournament, but others at 152 with a shot to place include Colony junior Mike Trask and Wasilla senior Mack Gagnon.

160 pounds

McBryde is the defending state champion at this weight class, and has been the top-ranked 160-pounder all season. McBryde’s chief competition for the title is expected to be East senior Nic Herron-Webb, who lost to McBryde in the Cook Inlet Conference finals.

Colony’s Kenny Boykin is the fifth seed following a third place performance at the NLC tournament.

171 pounds

Like McBryde at 160, South senior Jessy Amos is a big favorite to take home a state title. Amos is a perfect 31-0 this season, and won the CIC title by pinning all three of his opponents in the tournament. He’s also the defending champion at the weight class.

Wasilla junior Casey Katchinska could be a good bet for an upset. Katchinska beat Colony’s Tyler Milner in the conference finals and is seeded fourth overall, while Milner, a senior, is the sixth seed.

Katchinska said following his NLC win that he’s felt himself steadily improving all season long.

“I’ve been getting better every tournament all season,” Katchinska said.

189 pounds

Another big favorite, NLC champion Eddie Buffington of Skyview has lost just once this season. But Buffington faced a stiff challenge from Colony junior Angelo Bellotte in the NLC finals, and won’t have an easy road to the finals. Along with the fourth seed Bellotte, Buffington will also have to get past the likes of Kent Osborn of Lathrop, the Mid-Alaska Conference champion who was fourth at 189 a year ago.

Wasilla’s Chris Crane also figures to be in the hunt, having complied a 14-4 record this season on his way to the state’s fifth seed.

215 pounds

Though seeded fourth, Colony sophomore Eric Fan could make some major noise at 215.

Fan returned from a knee injury just before the NLC tournament, which he went on to win. Despite having wrestled just seven times this year (he’s 6-1), Fan showed during the conference tournament he’s nothing to mess around with.

Fan’s route to the finals will have to go through undefeated Andrew Wilson, an East High senior who’s 13-0 and the top seed in the division. Chugiak senior Sheldon Vogt is the second seed, while West junior Trevor McDonald is third.

285 pounds

SoHi senior Les Baker is 16-1 and has been the state’s top-ranked heavyweight all season. Baker’s chief competition should come from second-seeded Jeff Pritchett of Colony. Pritchett, a senior, has lost just four times this year — but that includes a 11-1 major decision loss at the hands of Baker last week.

akmat.org Alaska Class 4A team rankings

1. Colony (Northern Lights Conference champs, defending Alaska 4A champs)

2. Lathrop (Mid Alaska Conference champs)

3. Chugiak (Cook Inlet Conference champs)

4. East Anchorage (CIC runner-up)

5. North Pole (Mid Alaska runner-up)

State Tournament Seeds

103 — 1. Charles Coisman, Colony, Soph. (27-0); 2. Matthew Malnoske, East, Fr. (19-3); 3. Skyler Moore, East, Soph. (24-4); 4. Eric Tupper, Lathrop, Soph. (11-3); 5. Adam Wood, North Pole, Fr. (17-12); 6. Dylan Anthony, Kodiak, Soph. (20-12).

112 — 1. Anthony Ricketts, Service, Sr. (38-1); 2. Michael Abt, Sitka, Sr. (26-2); 3. Jeremy Simmons, Lathrop, (11-1); 4. Steven Temple, Lathrop, Fr. (17-8); 5. Nick Wharton, Chugiak, Jr. (17-12); 6. Chloe Ivanoff, Kodiak, Soph. (31-5).

119 — 1. Nathan Hoffer, East, Soph. (25-0); 2. Kyle Wilson, Colony, Jr. (22-1); 3. Mike Chafin, Wasilla, Sr. (25-6); 4. Kyle Foote, Ketchikan, Sr. (22-5); 5. Michaela Hutchison, Skyview, Sr. (29-7); 6. Joe Hughes, Lathrop, Soph. (18-6).

125 — 1. Dustin Maxwell, East, Sr. (27-1); 2. Zach Beauchamp, Colony, Sr. (24-2); 3. Luke Shelley, South, Soph. (18-2); 4. Ben Daigle, Homer, Jr. (32-5); 5. Nick Martin, Ketchikan, Jr. (29-4); 6. Dan Simmons, Lathrop, Sr. (20-3).

130 — 1. Jimmy Eggemeyer, Kodiak, Sr. (26-1); 2. Doug Templeton, West Valley, Jr. (21-3); 3. Sam Loggins, Colony, Soph. (31-5); 4. Bryce Saviers, Juneau, Jr. (20-4); 5. Steven Kichura, Chugiak, Sr. (25-9); 6. Chris Gross, Wasilla, Jr. (26-17).

135 — 1. Grant Sullivan, Chugiak, Soph. (28-2); 2. Wes Mills, Soldotna, Sr. (37-2); 3. Aaron Boss, Colony, Sr. (21-2); 4. Lipho Thirakul, East, Sr. (29-5); 5. Tom Appelhanz, Homer, Sr. (25-7); 6. Derek Templeton, West Valley, Jr. (18-4).

140 — 1. Quincy Voris, Chugiak, Sr. (30-0); 2. Eric Antesberger, North Pole, Soph. (29-2); 3. Robby Brymer, Homer, Jr. (33-8); 4. Zach Eastlick, Dimond, Jr. (13-10); 5. Jon Pressler, West, Soph. (17-5); 6. Pierce Stowman, West Valley, Jr., (20-8).

145 — 1. Nick Stahler, Palmer, Jr. (20-3); 2. Levi Krueger, Colony, Sr. (24-5); 3. Levi Jutila, North Pole, Jr. (16-1); 4. Torin Lehman, Sitka, Sr. (32-8); 5. Jon O’Hara, Chugiak, Sr. (22-7); 6. Levi Williams, Eagle River, Jr. (26-7).

152 — 1. Trenton Lemmons, Lathrop, Soph (17-3); 2. Steven Dyer, Juneau, Sr. (30-2); 3. John Croffut, Dimond, Sr. (25-4); 4. Blake Brown, South, Sr. (25-4); 5. Carson Roberts, West (20-4); 6. Tris Brymer, Homer, Sr. (24-2).

160 — 1. Nolan McBryde, Chugiak, Jr. (23-4); 2. Nic Herron-Webb, East, Sr. (23-5); 3. Marlon Branson, Kodiak, Sr. (30-3); 4. Gary Anthony, Kodiak, Jr. (17-7); 5. Kenny Boykin, Colony, Soph. (20-4); 6. Eddie Hoch, Lathrop, Sr., (12-2).

171 — 1. Jessy Amos, South, Sr. (31-0); 2. Taylor Lewis, North Pole, Jr. (24-1); 3. Zach Baldwin, Chugiak, Soph. (29-6); 4. Casey Katchinska, Wasilla, Jr. (23-8); 5. Patrick Sheridan, Skyview, Sr. (30-7); 6. Tyler Milner, Colony, Sr. (19-8).

189 — 1. Eddie Buffington, Skyveiw, Sr. (29-1); 2. Kent Osborn, Lathrop, Sr. (21-2); 3. Chaz Johnson, Chugiak, Sr. (28-5); 4. Angelo Bellotte, Colony, Jr. (16-5); 5. Chris Crane, Wasilla, Jr. (14-4); 6. Curtis Ferris, Dimond, Jr. (19-8).

215 — 1. Andrew Wilson, East, Sr. (13-0); 2. Sheldon Vogt, Chugiak, Sr. (9-6); 3. Trevor McDonald, West, Jr. (22-4); 4. Eric Fan, Colony, Soph. (6-1); 5. Matt Strieby, Soldotna, Sr. (16-3); 6. Jackson Collins, North Pole, Jr. (24-5)

285 — 1. Les Baker, Soldotna, Sr. (16-1); 2. Jeff Pritchett, Colony, Sr. (23-4); 3. Jed Johnson, Wasilla, Jr. (23-7); 4. Clay Tidwell, North Pole, Jr. (18-10); 5. Alex Lutton, Dimond, Jr. (18-7); 6. Greg Howard, Chugiak, Jr. (12-10).

Mat-Su Qualifiers

Colony Knights (25)

103 — Charles Coisman, Soph.; Issac Wilson, Fr.

112 — Matt Vukich, Fr.

119 — Kyle Wilson, Jr.; Kyle Boss, Fr.

125 — Zach Beauchamp, Sr.; Nathan Such, Fr.

130 — Sam Loggins, Soph.; Dan Gregory, Sr.

135 — Aaron Boss, Sr.; Jacob Pfeiffer, Jr.

140 — *Josh West, Jr.; Ryan Knutson, Soph.

145 — Levi Krueger, Sr.; Bridger VanNess, Jr.

152 — David Crozier, Sr.; Mike Trask, Jr.

160 — Kenny Boykin, Soph; Chris Oilvera, Sr.

171 — Tyler Milner, Sr.

189 — Angelo Bellotte, Jr.; Paul McKeown

215 — Eric Fan, Soph.; Renn Wright, Fr.

285 — Jeff Pritchett, Sr.

*Withdrawn

Wasilla Warriors (11)

103 — Kendra Nelson, Sr.

112 — Brooke Nelson, Soph.

119 — Mike Chafin, Sr.

125 — Josh Brown, Soph.

130 — Chris Gross, Jr.

135 — David Muzechuk, Sr.

152 — Mack Gagnon, Sr.

171 — Casey Katchinska, Jr.

189 — Chris Crane, Jr.

215 — Beebo Russell, Sr.

285 — Jed Johnson, Jr.

Palmer Moose (4)

112 — L.J. Lepanen, Fr.

130 — Bucky Tacke, Fr.

145 — Nick Stahler, Jr.

189 — Sam Heindel, Jr.

Houston Hawks (2)

152 — Cass Melin, Sr.

215 — Justin Crowley, Sr.